Everyday you meet a new person, no matter they age, race or political affiliation. one amazing thing about the random people you meet, most of them are just amazing in their own unique way. During my short break away i met a young beautiful little angel passionate and crazy about the environment in a way no fully grown person can explain apart from her own words.
Meet Ellyanne Chlystun Githae the 7 year old girl who is making the environment her first priority. Ellyanne started planting trees in 2015 at the tender age of 4 years. Over the years Ellyanne has made so much impact to the environment that has got her recognition from UNEP Nairobi.
I thought to myself, why is it that some parents will allow some kids do good and others just leave the kids to roam around on their own like they don’t belong to anyone in this society. Ellyanne wishes to change the thoughts of other kids in order to create a peaceful surrounding for the future of tomorrow. Environment is home and i believe if we get 10 more parents who are willing to support their little ones with the passion they have.
Ellyanne is one of the many kids who are changing lives and ensuring the environment is taken care of. This year alone, she has been able to plant 321 trees and she is not stopping anytime soon until she confirms that the number of trees cut are less compared to the ones planned.
In Kenya, the widespread cutting of trees is a leading cause of environmental degradation. The practice is a major contributor to poverty, drought and famine.
80% of the world’s forests are already destroyed.
80,000 acres of forests disappear from the Earth every day!
300 billion tons of carbon are stored in the Earth’s forests, which helps regulate its climate by regulating atmospheric gases, stabilizing rainfall, and protecting against desertification
To address this, 7-year-old Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae has taken up tree planting.
Ellyanne started tree planting in 2015. At a mere age of 4 years. She did a project in Kindergarten on heroes due to their work in impacting the world. These heroes included Martin Luther King Jr, Wangari Maathai, Barack Obama, Henry Wanyoike among others. She later narrowed down to Wangari Maathai and Hennry Wanyoike as people she would want to emulate.
Why Wangari Maathai? Ellyanne’s Achievements
Ellyanne feels that what Maathai believed in is one of the most important things in the world…planting trees. She believes all trees were planted by Wangari Maathai, who will be upset in heaven seeing them being cut. She says that even projects like infrastructure development which lead to mass cutting of trees should be re-thought and alternative measures to be taken so as to avoid tree cutting! As her contribution to mitigate deforestation, Ellyanne has planted 321 trees mainly in Karura Forest.
Her passion and zeal has not gone unnoticed. Young Ellyanne was invited by UNEP Nairobi on 5th June 2017, for the celebrations of World Environment Day, whose theme was Connecting with Nature. She was excited to listen to great people like the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), Madame Sahle-Work Zewde.
As a build up to World Environment Day 2017 Ellyanne planted 12 trees with young students on 31st May in Karura forest, Joined Youth at USIU University on 4th June for an environment awareness talk & planted 2 trees. She received a Certificate of Recognition, for her participation. She also joined Mr. & Miss Environment on 3rd June for fashion show geared towards creating awareness on the environment at Southern Sun May Fair Hotel
Ellyanne’s mother, Dorothy Githae, has supported her daughter’s passion by starting a tree nursery in their backyard. They currently have 600 tree seedlings of INDIGENOUS, EXOTIC TREES & FLOWERS that they aim to plant by end of 2017 in collaboration with kids from Cheleta Primary School (a school for Githogoro & Huruma Slums kids) located in Runda.
Tree planting is an important measure in combating global warming. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, contribute to soil health, retain water, and cool overheated urban areas. The earth needs more trees! With passion like Ellyanne’s, probably we may be able to plant just enough trees to solve global warming.
I urge everyone to stand with #ChildrenWithNature, they are on the forefront of environmental conservations and i believe if we all agree to come on board and support them, our environment will never luck.
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